My response to my friend Naheed Nenshi was simply to say that some of the hyperbolic language that's being used to critique this sensible reinforcement of the public nature of the citizenship oath is, I think, unhelpful, and is actually inflaming the situation.

Rural Alberta is a lot less homogeneous than it used to be, partly because of my immigration policies.

I do believe there is absolutely space for legitimate debate in a liberal democracy about immigration selection, screening and integration.

You ought not to accept the claim that this is a religious practice. I think that's, frankly, problematic for Islam, for well-intentioned Liberals like you to say that this is a religious practice when the overwhelming consensus of Islamic scholars around the world, and the overwhelming majority of Canadian Muslims, believe this has absolutely - that the niqab as face covering, that this symbol of misogyny has nothing to do with Islam.

For members who have only ever been in government, the negativity and aggressiveness of the opposition is easy to caricature.

I thought very seriously having something more like a normal life where I might have my weekends and evenings off, and be able to read and have a more robust personal life.

Sometimes there are no good choices for government.